ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of Huoxue Xifeng Decoction (HXD) on endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the blood and brain tissue of focal cerebral infarction (FCI) rats. Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups:sham-operation, FCI model and HXD-high, HXD-middle, HXD-low dose groups, with 8 rats in each group. The model of FCI rats was established by photo-chemistry method, and intragastric administration were continue 7 days before operation. HXD-high, HXD-middle, HXD-low dose groups were given HXD 20, 10, 5 g/(kg?d) respectively, and other groups were given the same volume distilled water. Blood and brain tissue samples were gotten 24 h after operation, and radio-immunity method was used to measure ET-1 level, spectrophotometric method was used to measure NO level. Results Compared with FCI model group, HXD decreased ET-1 level in plasma and brain tissue after infarction, and decreased NO level in the brain tissue, increased NO level in serum (P